In just slightly over a week we shall be heading out on our West Coast Extravaganza. It still doesn't actually feel like we are leaving that soon, but I have a feeling the night before I will start freaking out a little bit haha. I swear it doesn't matter how much preparing I do I always get a little crazy come travel time. Thankfully, usually after the first day the stress subsides. Either way I'm excited!

I'm hoping you guys can help me out a little and let me know about all the cool things we must see on our travels. I'm talking weird road side attractions, amazing views, and any other cool/fun things! I want to come back from this trip with tons of cool pictures and stories.

23 comments
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That sounds so amazing! I can't wait to see photos! Portland is getting into some beautiful spring weather right now, so you are in luck! I wrote a post for CRAFT about some of my favorite things here - http://www.creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com/free-things-to-do-in-portland/ so maybe that will help! If you need any other tips, let me know! I love introducing others to the city I love!

Ah that sounds wonderful! Also you sure do have a lot of weddings to go to! I haven't been to any of those places so no advice but can't wait to follow along through your adventures. Although Portland and San Francisco are definitely high on my list of places to travel to soon!

Portland is great! Do a lot of hiking and a lot of eating. Multnomah falls is a must-see as well as Mount Tabor in the city. I'm a vegan so I can recommend Portobello's and any pod of food trucks you can find, haha. Oh and Voodoo Donut of course!

You should stop in Downtown Santa Ana after you leave Laguna Beach. It's about 20 miles north and there's tons of little restaurants, bars, and shops. In Portland you should definitely go to: Ground Kontrol, Lardo, Mississippi Pizza, Paxton Gate on Mississippi Ave, Night Light Lounge in SE has a great brunch on Sat & Sun (bottomless mimosas!), Red Light Clothing on SE Hawthorne (great vintage shop), and if the weather is nice you can rent bikes and ride along the waterfront and Eastbank Esplanade. I could really go on forever because Portland is the best.

We'll be heading off on our own little adventure soon too. I somehow convinced my husband that we should drive from MO to FL to visit friends and then to CT to visit my family before driving back to MO. With two kids. It'll be a crazy couple of weeks! I hope you guys have an awesome West Coast Extravaganza :)

Eeek, this trip is so similar to our honeymoon road trip! This past October, we flew to Portland, OR, then got a car and drove up to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock, down the coast to Newport, OR, then Eureka, CA, Went through the redwoods and hiked some, visited San Francisco, drover farther south to Big Sur, and stayed a few days in a yurt at Treebones. Most favorite trip of my life. It is SO BEAUTIFUL driving out there.

Looks like a fun trip. I live in San Francisco, and I recommend the Walt Disney Family Museum and the Golden Gate Bridge (of course). And in Portland, you can't miss Voodoo Donuts (drool...) and Powell's Bookstore. Have fun! :)

San Francisco:A beautiful view (if you're okay with heights): Twin PeaksAquarium/Planetarium. You can probably go up to the machines and pay less for a ticket as a student (w/o showing ID): Academy of SciencesStrange/unique store like Oddities: Loved To Death on Haight street.

Obviously, the most important thing for you to do in San Francisco is let me take you to Sushirrito. It's sushi... the size of a BURRITO. Top priority. Obviously.

Outside of that, explore Golden Gate Park, the Mexican food in the Mission (especially around 24th Street & Mission; as someone who hails from AZ, you'd approve!), trek across the bridge to Oakland for amazing mac & cheese at Homeroom, and coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee.

For Portland, please go eat at Pine State Biscuits. And the Waffle Window. Wander up and down Hawthorne and visit the awesome thrift stores and assorted shops. There's a place called the Dollar Scholar that has a barrel of pogs on the porch; they're 2 cents each and a delightful blast from the past.